Business Operations Manager RR-26-043 (3981)

Navarro Research and Engineering is recruiting a Business Operations Manager RR-26-043 (3981) in Carlsbad, NM.

Navarro Research & Engineering is an award-winning federal contractor dedicated to partnering with clients to advance clean energy and deliver effective solutions for complex challenges in the nuclear and environmental fields. Joining Navarro means being a part of an exceptional team committed to quality and safety while also looking for innovative strategies to create value for the client's success. Headquartered in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Navarro has active programs in place across the nation for DOE/NNSA, NASA, and the Department of Defense.

Position Summary

The Business Operations Manager provides senior-level leadership and management for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Institutional Program. The position directs institutional relations, intergovernmental coordination, policy support, contractor oversight, cooperative agreements, budgets, emergency response training, stakeholder communications, and issue resolution related to the safe and efficient transportation and disposal of transuranic (TRU) waste.

The role serves as a primary liaison among DOE Headquarters and field offices, the State of New Mexico, corridor states and tribes, regional state organizations, contractors, emergency response organizations, legislative leaders, and the public. The position operates with broad policy guidance and exercises substantial independent judgment in planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating complex institutional programs and first-of-a-kind WIPP program solutions.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, coordinate, negotiate, and manage the WIPP Institutional Program, including cooperative agreements with the Midwest and Northeast Councils of State Governments, Southern States Energy Board (SSEB), Western Interstate Energy Board (WIEB), Native American tribes, the State of New Mexico, and other participating organizations.
• Serve as the primary institutional liaison with New Mexico state organizations, corridor states and tribes, state and local governments, tribal officials, legislative leaders, DOE organizations, contractors, and public stakeholders.
• Plan, organize, facilitate, and participate in consultation and coordination meetings, workshops, public meetings, hearings, forums, briefings, public information exchanges, and project conferences.
• Review national TRU waste management activities involving governmental entities and maintain awareness of WIPP activities to ensure the Institutional Program remains consistent with DOE policies, objectives, and mission requirements.
• Identify, analyze, and resolve complex issues affecting transportation and disposal system operations, including issues involving public health and safety, public acceptance, regulatory compliance, environmental protection, contractor performance, and program policy.
• Develop and guide institutional programs based on analysis of stakeholder comments on planning and operations documents, and participate in DOE task forces and working groups to provide policy input.
• Develop strategies for effective interaction and information exchange with state, local, and tribal officials; DOE field offices and contractors; regional organizations; emergency responders; and the general public.
• Coordinate with DOE Headquarters and field organizations, including the Office of Environmental Management Office of Transportation, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM), Nuclear Energy, Environmental Restoration, other field offices, and DOE contractors.
• Manage projects and tasks involving institutional relations, issue resolution, policy support, engineering, radiological and public safety, environmental sciences, law, procurement, transportation, and contract management.
• Act as a key point of contact regarding transportation and disposal activities, emergencies and events, plans, policies, and institutional issues, including the mediation and resolution of controversial matters.
• Assess and monitor internal and external audits of TRU waste transportation carrier contractors for compliance with contracts; federal, state, local, and tribal regulations and requirements; and state and tribal agreements.
• Monitor contractors, provide direction on assigned projects and tasks, review contractor reports and deliverables, evaluate contractor performance, review invoices, negotiate changes, and perform Institutional Program Contracting Officer Representative functions.
• Prepare, propose, justify, defend, and manage the Institutional Program budget and related submissions to DOE Headquarters and other federal agencies.
• Analyze cooperative agreement budget submissions from regional state groups, states, tribes, and other organizations and recommend whether proposed costs are reasonable.
• Develop program guidance when existing DOE guidelines are unavailable or inadequate for unique and complex WIPP program challenges.
• Analyze state work plans involving emergency response and public information.
• Manage and administer the States and Tribal Education Program (STEP) for emergency responders, hospital personnel, and medical examiners along transportation corridor routes covering 19 states and six Indian tribes.
• Evaluate emergency response training for state, tribal, and local personnel involved directly or indirectly in the transportation disposal system.
• Manage curriculum development, field exercises, and instructional materials for STEP and the Institutional Program, supporting firefighters, emergency medical teams, law enforcement personnel, hospital personnel, and other first responders.
• Manage and serve as Lead Team Member for the DOE-NNSA Office of Emergency Response (NA-42) Radiological Assistance Program (RAP) Region 4, covering Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
• Serve as a Team Leader and subject matter expert for radiological response activities, including potential nationwide or international deployment for radiological incidents and radiological screening under National Response Framework Emergency Support Functions in response to Homeland Security requests.
• Provide accurate information on WIPP status and TRU waste management issues through speeches, briefings, public hearings, conferences, papers, technical reports, memoranda, letters, project status reports, and weekly activity reports.
• Integrate institutional activities with economic, environmental, and technical liaison functions to support a coordinated program.
• Review project documents and reports for technical accuracy and consistency, identify additional information or requirements, and contribute to the development of program policies and guidelines.
• Provide technical assistance and guidance to institutional network members and monitor legislative, policy, and technical trends affecting nuclear material and radioactive, hazardous, and mixed waste transportation and disposal programs.
• Brief the CBFO Manager and Deputy Manager on matters that could adversely affect relationships with states, tribes, or outside organizations.
• Represent DOE in meetings and contacts with federal, state, tribal, and local agencies, contractors, public and technical groups, emergency responders, law enforcement, transportation personnel, special-interest groups, and other stakeholders.
• Negotiate differences, explain the intent and basis of requirements, guidelines, agreements, and goals, and build cooperation, acceptance, and consensus among diverse parties.